Track-cleaner for sawmill-carriages.



G. M. REDDY.

. l, 1914. I l

Patented June 29, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET2.

nov/wrox ger/*ard FIQ,

GERRARD M. REDDY, 0F BOWIE, LOUISIANA.

TRACK-CLEANER FOR SAWMILL-GARRIAG-ES.

` Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1915.

Application filed September 1, 1914. Serial No. 859,674.

T0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GERRARD M. REDDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bowie, in the parish of Lafourche and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track-Cleaners for Sawmill-Carrages, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the subject of sawmill appliances, and more particularly to track cleaners and wheel guards for sawmill carriages. f

To this end, the invention has in view a simple and practical form of track cleaner designed to be used in connection with the wheels of a sawmill carriage, and comprising means for not only guarding and protecting the wheel, but also subserving the function of a cleaner yto automatically and effectually clear the track rails of obstructing foreign matter such as sawdust, bark, wood chips, and in fact any foreign material or obstructions which it would be objectionable to have present on the tracks of a sawmill carriage. It is well known in the lumber industry that the presence of sawdust, bark, or other obstructing material on the tracks of the sawmill carriage seriously interfere with the proper movement and operation of the latter, and it has therefore been the aim of sawmilloperators to provide devices for keeping the tracks clear of such material, as well as to prevent undue wear of the wheel and the tracks by the use of such devices.

Accordingly, it is the purpose of the pres ent invention to provide such a device that will not only eectually exercise its cleaning function, but at the same time do so with a minimum amount of wear on the wheel, the track, and on the device itself. Furthermore, in this connection, the invention contemplates a`- device having wear members which are readily renewable and replaceable at small expense, so that the device, as an attachment, is practically indestructible as compared with similar devices' heretofore used. f

With these and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and

claimed.

Though susceptible of structural modifipropelling engagement with the device for moving it back and forth over the track. Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of one end of the device showing the mounting of the iller wear blocks in combination with an end guard cap. Fig. 4 is an inside elevation of one of the side casing plates. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing one of the end caps and the associated pair of wear blocks in separated relation. Fig. f. 6 is an inside elevation of one of the end guard caps.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The device as an entirety may be designated as an open floating casing, inasmuch as it loosely and freelyreceives the wheel of the carriage therein and is propelled thereby over the track.

In the drawings, the numeral l designates a wheel of the sawmill carriage which travels upon one of the track rails 2, and the open casing of the device not only embraces and receives the lower portion of the wheel below the aXle, but also has a loosely interlocked` connection with the wheel to insure the propulsion of the cleaner back and forth over the track rail with the least possible friction, as will presently appear.

The casing of the cleaner includes in its organization-the opposite duplicate side casing plates 3 arranged in spaced parallel relation and a sufficient distance apart to admit therebetween the carriage wheel. These plates are preferably made of malleable iron castings, and each of the same has formed upon the inner side thereof a semi-annular or semi-circular bearing shoulder 4 projecting inwardly from the inside face of the plate and having a radius corresponding to that of theinner rim shouldery 5 of the rim 6 of the carriage wheel. y Accordingly, when the casing plates are assembled with the other parts of the cleaner, the carriage wheel is so disposed therein that the inner shoulders 5 of the wheel rim have a bearing engagement against the inner shouldersi .of the casing plates, with they result ofproviding a loose interlocking connection between the wheel and the cleaner casing so that the wheel will positively move the casing back and forth over the track without Vcontact with the wear members to be presently referred to. Also, a desirable feature of this interlocking connection is the lifting tendvency'fwhich the wheel ,eXertson the cleaner when mov-ing they latter along and -over'the track.. This is due to the fact that the shoulders 4; Vand 5 areconcentric, and when the wheel is moving in one directiomas for instance in the direction indicated by the ar row in Fig. 1, the bearingpressure lof the rim shoulder 5 comes against lthe then rear portions ofrthetshoulders l. rlhe Awheel turning in the direction ofthe arrow shown in Fig. 1 therefore tends to lift the rear Yportionof the cleaner and thereby ease the friction4 thereofy on the track rail." `This islreversed to the other end of the cleaner when V,the ,sawmillcarriage moves in the other d1- vThe. ends of ythe cleaner are entirely in- 'c'loqsed and protected by the end guard caps 17.',VEach' of `these guardy capsris preferably made of soft wearing metal, suchdas brass, and is also preferably made. ofra single casting.'y The same is substantiallyfof a `V ,shape in cross section,`havmg thekoppo- Asite flat fendertwalls 8 joined ror united at the central apeX 9 of the castingwhich lies atan inclination to the perpendicular. In rfact the'entire end cap casting is formed so as toset in an upright position at an inclination'with the lower front corner thereof proljecting forwardly, and thereby forming a clearer point 10 which travels directly over and upony the track rail. This point, together with the laterally inclined fender walls 8 serve to meet the track obstructions and deflect the same laterally away yfrom the rail. i By reason of being made of soft metal, the .contact of thesaid end guard caps with ythe rails will not cause any wear on the latter. Referring 'further to the structural characteristics of the endV caps?, yeach of the latter is formed at the edges ofthe inclined walls 8 thereof with the outside joint flanges '11 which overlap the end edgesl of the side casingplates 3 and forma tight oint therewith which prevents the entrance of foreign matter into the ends ofthe casing. By reason'of the end caps thus overlapping the end r'edges of the casingrplates 3, the ends of the casing are entirely closed by the end'caps, and in additionfto this function each of the end capsyoperates as a holding andl locking meansfor apair of filler wear ,blocks 12, 1 2,

associated therewith.

".lhejwearblocks 12 are preferably wooden blocks, cut across the grain, -and constitute vable,4as they become worn.

the main wearing elements or members of the device, and while rigidly and firmly lockedwithinthe lends ofthe casing are intendedy to be readily removable and replace- To secure the firm seating thereof, within the ends of the casing, and the rigid locking together of the coperating parts, the said blocks,`as

indicated, are arranged in pairs at each end of the casing. The blocks of each pair are also arranged respectively upon opposite sidesV yof an inside central holding rweb 13 formedV integrally with each end cap 'and projecting inwardly and centrally ,fromthe apex thereof between' the opposite walls r8. The holding weby 13 snugly registers and interlocks within a shoulderedl facial keeper seat 14 formed in the inner Yface of thejblock 19J of each pair of blocks, and in addition to Vthis. feature each block isprovidedwithra beveled front edge :15 registering, with-lone of the fender walls 8, and in oneJ front corner with a plurality of keeperlnotchesl 16 which receive andinterlock with a plurality o ff correspondingly shaped locking lugsl .17

projecting inwardly from a wall8 oftheend cap 7, said lugsalso engaging at the inner sideof the casing plate 3 and coperatingz;

withthejoutside joint flange 11 `to properlyhold the end of the casing plate-within and to Vthe guard cap; i Withtheup'art's in this assembled relation a plurality of wfarstening boltsl1-7arigidly tie them together,

4such boltslpassing through alined bolt openings inthe casing plates 3, the wear; blocks, and in the central holding web 13. As almatter of ,additional vprotection to the device itself,-each side casing plate has formed thereon exterior rounded :fender projections 18. These fender projections are located adjacent the ends of the casing plate and are upwardly convergent with re'- ylation tothe outside `joint flanges r11 Aof. the

endv caps, which latter flanges are ,also roimded to act as fenders. The effect 'of said Ajoint flanges projecting @beyond the o uter faces of the side plates, and more particularly of the yfender projections 18, is to throw off heavy obstructions so as to protect the heads and nuts of the bolts which are located the intervalgbetween .said-,flanges and said fender projections.

In the operation of the device, it will be understoodtha't the' pairs of filler wear blocksl take the main wear of the device,

while at the same time efliciently performing the functionv of keeping the track y,rails smooth and clear in order to insure an "even movementfor the sawmill carriage. `Furthermore, an important consideration "in connection withv the use of these-blocks and the soft-metal kend caps is that' these-active elements ofthe cleaner will not wear-the track rails nor the wheels, which is one of the greatestobjections to -sawmillfczarriage 13G V cleaners heretofore used. It may also be noted at this point that the carriage Wheel does not engage the Wear blocks but maintains its engagement With the shoulders 4 of the casing, and is kept clear of the Wear blocks by the inner upper portions thereof being formed with Wheel-clearance bevels 19. As a matter of fact, it Will be observed that substantially the entire cleaning surface of the device is provided for by the Wooden Wear blocks, these being of a relatively eX- i f tended area covering the track rail to such a degree and in such a manner as to eec tually clear the same of foreign matter Without subjecting it to any Wear. A small area of the brass end caps Will engage the rails and incidentally perform a cleaning function also, but this engagement With the rails Will not impose any undue friction or Wear thereon.

Other advantages Will appear to those skilled in the art, and it Will be' understood that changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

I claim:

1. A track cleaner comprising an open wheel-receiving casing having removable end caps, and removable Wear blocks clamped withinvsaid caps. p

2. In a track cleaner, an open Wheel-receiving casing including side casing plates and removable end caps, and removable Wear blocks clamped Within said caps.

8. In a track cleaner, an open Wheel-receiving casing including side casing plates and removable end caps connecting the ends of said plates, and removable Wear blocks clamped Within said caps.

4;. A track cleaner comprising side casing plates having interior Wheel engaging means, removable end caps connecting the lends of said plates, and removable Wear blocks clamped Within said caps.

5. A track cleaner including opposite side casing plates, V-shaped end caps removably fitted to the ends of said plates, and a pair of Wear blocks removably locked Within each end cap.

6. A track cleaner including opposite side casing plates, V-shaped end caps removably fitted to the ends of said plates, a pair of Wear blocks having an interlocking engage ment With each end cap, and fastening bolts engaging the end caps, the side plates, and.

the Wear blocks.

7. A track cleaner including opposite side plates, removable end caps connecting the endsr of said plates and each provided with an iniside central holding Web, a pair of Wear blocks tting Within each end cap and arranged respectively upon opposite sides of the holding Web thereof, and fastening bolts engaging the side plates, the Wear blocks,

yand the holding Webs of the end caps.

8. A track cleaner including opposite side ceiving said Web and also provided withk keeper notches interlocking `With locking lugs of the end cap, and fastening bolts engaging the side plates, the Wear blocks, and the holding Webs of the end caps.

9. A track cleaner including opposite side plates, V-shaped end caps having outside joint lianges engaging over the end edges of said plates, and Wear members Within the end caps.

10. A track cleaner including opposite side casing plates provided With exterior fender projections adjacent the ends thereof, Wear members held between the casing plates, and fastening bolts engaging the casing plates and Wear members and having their heads and nuts disposed adjacent said fender projections.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aliix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

GERRARD M. REDDY.

Witnesses ELsn: C. SMALL, MARY K. KooGLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each by addressing the Commissioner of- Patents. Washngton, D. C. 

